Baker Defends Her $10/Cookie Price After Someone Says It’s ‘Insane’, But Some People Are Not Convinced
Interview With Artist
Grace Gaylord is a New York City-based cookie artist and content creator. Using food dye, edible glitter, flour, sugar, and butter, she creates tiny artworks that look good enough to eat, so to speak. She’s made a following across the internet as ‘The Graceful Baker’ for her videos showing how it’s done, especially on TikTok.
However, one of her videos where she quantifies the cost of making the cookies has come under fire. In a previous video, she mentions that one custom cookie would typically cost $10 (€9/£7) if she were to sell them. Grace breaks down the amount of time and money she spends in making them, and there’s a lot going on behind the scenes that her 30-second TikToks don’t show.
The viral video has racked up 3.3M likes on TikTok and whilst a lot of people have scoffed at the price, others see her reasoning for it and have supported her. Check out the video for Grace’s explanation and our interview with her for the full story.
More info: TikTok | Instagram | YouTube
Grace Gaylord (a.k.a. The Graceful Baker) makes hand-designed cookie artworks
Image credits: the.graceful.baker
“I started decorating cookies with royal icing just for fun about 10 years ago,” Grace told Bored Panda. “In 2018, I joined Instagram as ‘The Graceful Baker’ and started my grind as a (part-time) content creator.”
“Content creation for me really took off in December 2020 when I had my first viral hits on YouTube and then April 2021 when I had my first viral set on TikTok. Cookies are still my side hustle as I have a full-time day job, but who knows maybe one day it will be my full-time gig!”
She also told us about what keeps her inspired in her work and said, “My inspiration is two-fold: there’s what inspires me to be a cookie art content creator and there’s what inspires each individual set that I create.”
“My goal as a content creator is to both educate and entertain. The education part of it has taken a new turn this year as I’ve been tackling subjects and themes that I know nothing about. I’ve also been sharing what I’ve learned with my audience,” she explained.
“The second part is what inspires each set I tackle: sometimes it’s a topic that I’m personally very passionate about, other times it was a suggestion from a follower that sparked my interest, and other times it’s just a theme that makes me smile and I know would make others smile too!”
She’s gone viral for explaining why her cookies would cost $10 if she sold them
@thegracefulbakerReply to @petalcheek let’s break this down… #cookies #decorate #oddlysatisfying #icing #smallbusinesstiktok #learnontiktok♬ Monkeys Spinning Monkeys – Kevin MacLeod
Context is always important and it’s better to form your opinion after getting the whole story. I think Grace would agree with this and she gave us her view on why the video has been doing the rounds.
“Viral videos are always taken out of context (both in terms of the content in the video itself and who I am as a creator) and this one is no exception,” she said.
“The three biggest misconceptions surrounding this video: I sell my cookies (I do not; I am a content creator); the $10 price was for the emoji cookie in the viral video (it was not: it was for the mermaid tail cookie in the video it was responding to); and that I was quoting my actual salary (the answer was all a hypothetical scenario).”
“And then there’s just the lack of understanding of what goes into making royal icing cookies and being a one-woman show, but that’s a topic for another day!”
Grace has built a following online for her cute and decorative cookie designs
Image credits: the.graceful.baker
Image credits: the.graceful.baker
Image credits: the.graceful.baker
Image credits: the.graceful.baker
Image credits: the.graceful.baker
For more context on the situation, Grace gave us a full run-down on the story and how it came about. “The viral video in question was in response to a previous video where someone had asked me about what I would have charged for this set I had made three years ago. In my response, I said what I would have charged 3 years ago and what I would have charged today — that’s where the $10 came from,” she explained.
“The irony of course in all of this is that I don’t actually sell my cookies; I was just doing as a content creator does: answering a question from a follower. Both of these videos were made quite innocently and received some great questions and responses, which I decided to respond to with additional videos.”
As a content creator (and especially an artist) it can be difficult to hear negative feedback, let alone the outright harassment that people dish out online.
“For the most part, I’ve taken the reaction to the video with a hearty grain of salt and haven’t let it bother me,” Grace told us. “I’ve pushed the boundaries a lot more this year with the themes of my sets than I ever have, and with pushing boundaries has come some intense criticism, the kind of criticism that attacks your character and is much harder to ignore.”
“People telling me I charge too much for cookies I don’t even sell? That’s not the kind of criticism that keeps me up at night,” she joked.
“That said, I am only human. It’s been weeks since I posted that video and people are still watching it and leaving (inflammatory) comments all over my TikTok and even on my Instagram. I’ve tried to move on but it’s hard to ignore the fact that the video is still circling and many people are seeing it and my page just now for the first time.”
Some people in the comments criticized Grace and her hypothetical pricing
Grace left us with her advice for anyone that’s creating their own art and encouraged them not to let the critics get them down: “Criticism comes with the territory as a content creator. As the love multiplies, so does the hate, especially as you grow.”
“As a content creator, you have to develop a thick skin. First and foremost make sure that YOU feel good about the content you’re putting out there. You also have to remember that a person’s reaction (whether positive or negative) is a projection of how they feel about themselves, not a direct reflection of you and your work. Learn to take what other people say with a grain of salt: if there’s truth to it, act on it. Otherwise, let it slide.”
Others appreciated all the time and effort that goes into making them, and feel it’s justified
I saw this on tiktok and I still stand by my I’m not paying $10 for one cookie. Her designs aren’t that fantastic. I’ve seen similar at other bakeries and they charge no more than $3 a cookie. If she was painting the Mona Lisa or something on the cookies then I’d reconsider, but no the average person in this economy would not pay $10 for one cookie. Down arrow away.
It's kinda irrelevant what you'd pay. This is a capitalist society. Goods are priced at whatever, people decide whether to buy them or not. I wouldn't pay for a yacht, or tickets to Disney, or a thousand other things. IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT I'D DO. I'm irrelevant. Some people will; those businesses survive. Some people are happy to pay $10 for a cookie. So what if you're not one of them? Are you going to tell us ALL the things you're deciding not to buy? Who cares?
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If we valued our people at their real worth. People could afford 10$ cookies, and have a good living wage and afford their own home. If our government still valued family owned businesses
But it's not only a cookie, technically it's just "food". If it were $10 bread people would be screaming that the poor could no longer afford to eat
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What I got from this is that it takes her 8 hours to make 1 order of 24 cookies. This is... not efficient. Though I guess since her business exists, some people are ready to pay that much. Personally I'll take delicious undecorated cookie over the ones that are mostly frosting, but to each his own
There were a few tasks in her list that could be done concurrently, rather than consecutively. Which would reduce the number of hours taken. This increasing her hourly rate. BTW - there's a job posting on Indeed for a Patisserie baker in NYC for a posted salary of... $19/hour. Now, granted she's doing this out of her own kitchen and handmaking things (so she's not included wear and tear on her equipment in her costs), but still. Nearly double the salary? Free market forces will determine how viable her business is at these rates. She might keep getting custom orders. Will she get enough to earn $58k a year? I'm not so sure.
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These aren't cookies you buy to stuff your face with while binging Netflix. You buy ONE for someone, for a special occasion. Or you buy a bunch for some corporate event. These are gifts, not snacks.
This whole post is trying to start an argument. It's IRRELEVANT what she charges. People will either pay that, or not. They don't have to. So it's on her; she'll either succeed or she'll fail. That is the case for EVERY business. Good luck to her; she'll find customers or she won't. Everyone getting indignant about "well I wouldn't pay - " WHO CARES. Every one of us makes decisions every week about what we think is "worth" the money. That's entirely personal decision.
When you make a cookie recipe you're not making it per cookie. You're making a batch. So, if you're making a batch of 24 cookies that's an hour. It's not an hour per cookie. You can't price it like that. I'm not saying that her cookies should be cheaper, but it should be priced based on complexity and size. I'm not paying $10 for a tiny cookie with a solid colour flooding and a word on it.
Yes that justification was ridiculous!It wouldn't be 8 hours for just one order for sure cause they would soon be out of business!!! And i don't get the "if i charged 5$ people would still think it's a lot so i charge 10$"! Lol!
Load More Replies... Okay. I am a custom cake and cookie decorator on the opposite coast and also work out of a home kitchen. I have thoughts. Supplies for 18 cookies (I usually work in sets of 18) that are about 3-4" (standard sizes) run about $13. I know from experience that if I work efficiently I can design and decorate two sets of 18 (6 unique designs, 3 of each) in about 8-9 hours active time. I charge $3-$4 cookie (highly detailed or lots of different colors are closer to $4). Which brings the total for a set (again, 18 cookies is how I operate) to at most $72. I have certifications and ten years of experience. Expecting to make that salary out of a home kitchen is ambitious at best. We all charge what we think people will pay so good for her however, most of us are half that and do okay. If you want big money do cakes.
$240 for 12 cookies is insane, I dont care what state or city you live in. A lady my daughter buys custom cookies from is usually between $100-$120.00 depending on what she is getting, which I still think its a lot but still more reasonable than $10 a cookie. In my opinion a lot of these cookies dont even taste good, they spend so much time on the out appearance they forget flavor is still just as important.
Just going to point out that at $10 a cookie, her charge of $240 is for 24. So that works out to about the same as your daughter pays.
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If she charges $10 per cookie and someone is willing to pay her price, then that's as far as it goes. I. don't get to chime in on it. Not my cookies, not my money. How is this my business.
Remember when everyone thought anything more than $1 for coffee was insane?
That equates to £41700 in uk money. This is well above what nurses, firefighters, paramedics, even doctors are paid. Not sure who the target market is, the super rich of newyork?! I wouldn't indulge in a 10$ cookie even if I was in the mood for spoiling myself
Not a chance I'd pay $10 for a cookie I make twice what she's saying that equals for a years salary and still wouldn't even think about that it's insane.
SHE DOESNT SELL THESE COOKIES YOU FREAKING IDIOTS. She literally DOES NOT SELL THEM. I read through ALL these comments and it’s CLEAR nobody actually read the part where she says THIS IS ALL HYPOTHETICAL. Unbelievable.
And her designs ARE FREAKING INSANELY ATTRACTIVE. She is very talented.
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Eh, it’s rich people stuff, like designer clothes. If some Upper East Side parents want to spend $200 on cookies their kid’s party who cares.
$10 dollars for a cookie is ridiculous. The cost to produce does not decide the value of the product.
Someone literally made a good point of it mostly being around $10 value mostly for her artistic skills. Its funny how this is controversial when we've had ridiculous tiny desserts LIKE a cookie go for bout 100 dollars up to a THOUSAND for years, but no one batted an eye. but an independent baker who isnt even selling her cookies everyone loses their s**t. The irony is real.
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After last week's floods I would imagine most New Yorkers don't give a rats ass about $10 cookies one way or another.
The real issue here is why it's taking her 8 hours for 12 mediocre cookies. THAT'S why $10 a cookie ABSOLUTELY is 100% insane.
The break down of salary against $10 cookies is asinine. If her whole business model is built around this mentality she's not going to last long. It would more to her benefit to make mass produced cookies made with less investment on her side as her base salary and have these Unicorn Fart cookies as something people can buy if they choose.
Nope. Sorry. Don't mean to be rude, but I went to a culinary school that also ran it's own business... We made much nicer then just a fancy frosting job lol. Cute, but anyone with a creative bone and a steady hand can do it. Chances are those are the most basic sugar cookies caked in frosting xD good lord, she should be embarrassed. I've seen actual kids make several dozen and decorate in the span of a few hours, but she wants $10 a cookie!? She buyers sure, doesn't mean they aren't getting scammed xD I know she doesn't sell them, but I feel like she's putting WAY too much value on these... Yes it takes work BUT NOT THAT MUCH! XDD Its not like she's world class, pretty basic but she wants a gold star! I think she needs to take a step back and realize others can do that.
I'm a bit torn on this. On one hand, if a person thinks $10 a cookie is too much they don't have to buy them. One the other hand, by the 'break down' of her pricing, she is charging the client cleanup cost? I kind of understand the 'communication with the client' as even a plumber will charge you to come look at what may need to be done, but it's still just a cookie.
Obviously, her baking skills are a lot better than her math skills. Her reasoning only makes sense if she were baking 1 cookie at a time. But baking 1 cookie or baking 20 at a time is not that much different. Let's say it takes you 6 hours to make 1 cookie. If you want to make 20 very similar cookies you may spend 11 hours... NOT 120 (6HRS X 20 Cookies).
I have seen similar calculations for knitted mittens and socks, ending at a whooping 1000+ dollars a pair. If charging a hourly rate to cover whatever salary you deem fit is applied almost any hobby item will be pricey. Might be worth it for someone with a lot of money willing to pay, most will not. Thats why many has things like this either as a hobby or to create online content, like she is. Whole thing gets a little absurd when the cakes isnt even for sale.
why would you pay 10$ for a cookie that you'd feel guilty for eating? Idk i just think cheap cookies are better cuz you pay 30 cents to pay for something that you will enjoy for three minutes, rather than 10$. im glad she manages to keep customers though
People who have large amounts of money don't feel guilty spending $10. That needs to be her primary customer base.
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I can get 5 chunky choc chip cookies for £1 in the supermarket (aka, $1.30-ish) so... yea no way I'd pay 10 for one f*****g boring ass "sugar cookie" with far too much icing. Lmao, plus this woman is delusional.. if you want a good salary, get a job. I'm sorry, but most people I know, unless they own their own bakery, do baking omissions etc as a side job, for a "bit of extra cash"
Cookies like this take alot of skill and time. I can certainly see how, from a maker's perspective, they are worth at least $10 each. From a business model perspective, I can also see how, people with more than enough money might see these as unique and upmarket gifts or decorations (goodness knows more money is spent on less attractive rubbish). From a personal perspective, a $10 cookie says alot about what is wrong with the capitalist market, wealth distribution and food security.
This is similar to the tale of the guy selling $10,000.00 apples; when told he'd never sell many apples at that price he responded "I just have to sell one!" Considering these cookies look delicious and the fact that nobody is FORCED to buy them, I truly don't understand the controversy. I imagine most people have never been behind the wheel of a Ferrari but, judging by the negative comments about $10.00 cookies, perhaps you folks should be protesting $300,000.00 cars...the NERVE!!!!!! Grace, charge what the market will bear and ignore the nay-sayers; it's called 'Capitalism' and I wish you all the success in the world in your business.
Yes because an over priced cookie and a luxury car are similar.....
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Yeah, definitely not worth $10 for something that looks cute and tastes like absolute s**t. I'm not spending $10 on a "gift" that is of absolutely no use to anyone. I mean, I guess, if someone encased it in resin it would be worth $10 for a seasonal ornament.
You are paying for her art and creativity. If you just want cookies to eat look elsewhere. If you want special cookies that tell your guests they are worth everything then you get cookies from her.
I love all the people in the comments here saying that they won't buy any from her. SHE'S NOT SELLING THEM!
Hard to credit that so many people get so crazed over the price of cookies. Since they don't have to buy them, why do they care?
She has the right to charge whatever she wants for her cookies. Also, you’re not forced to buy them, it’s not like they are the last food on earth . Don’t see a problem here
its personal bussines. they can priced their commodities however they liked. if 20K for a bag is okay, so why not 10$ cookies??
The cookies' market value is what customers will actually pay for them. That's capitalism.
She can charge whatever she wants as an artist, however, she really needs to work on her explanation for her reasoning. It doesn't make sense, the time allotment, the supplies etc...it's just not a good explanation. Just say: "this is what I believe my work is worth, I'm an artist after all" that's it, no need to break it down in that weird, non-sensical way, it takes away some of her repudability
well, considering that some people bought Kanye West $120 white plain tshirts...
As long as she isn’t holding a gun to your head and máking you buy them then it is her business and hers alone. She’s making a living, she likes her job. Let people be happy and go eat an Oreo.
I'd consider that price for a batch of custom designed cookies for a special occasion like a wedding, anniversary, or milestone birthday. For an ordinary day, grocery cookies are fine. May I suggest Tate's chocolate chip. (U.S.) If the price of her custom cookies is too much, you are free to look elsewhere.
She understands she is selling a luxury cookie. She is not forcing anyone to buy her cookies. And pretty sure at her salary, living in New York City, she does not spend that much on a single cookie either. But that doesn't mean other people can't afford it or would not want to buy it. It is New York City, people spend over 10k on a purse, she has the local clientele for this business. She found a niche market for rich people and supplies them with goods they want. Good for her to earn a living for herself.
It all comes down to being able to make a living at what you love to do. I love to crochet, and a sweater would take about 10-20 hours; the materials roughly $50-$100. If I costed it out to a living wage, no one would pay that amount for a hand-knit sweater. Not in any sustainable volume...
Many years ago I used to do cake decorating and made wedding cakes, birthday cakes etc. I would work with each client to design what they wanted. I typically charged $30 for an 8” cake. If they complained about the cost I would very nicely tell them I understood. They could certainly go to the cake department and pay way less. For me it would not be worth the time I would put in. I was never offended and most people understood. That being said, I personally would not pay $10, but I don’t live in NY. Also, very few people do not understand the intense work that goes into these. As someone else said, you don’t have to buy them. Why do you care if anyone else does?
I would definitely pay $10 each for special cookies to be sent to friends that I am far away from.
I'm amazed that people still don't understand the issue. SHE DOESN'T SELL HER COOKIES. At this price or at any price. Learn to read, folks.
Yeah? Try pricing wedding cakes. You're not only paying for her supplies & time, you're paying for her skill as well. Don't like it - don't buy it. Absolutely NO ONE cares.
The craftsmanship in these cookies is fantastic! Nobody would think the price was too high if they were marketed as ornaments or tchotchkes. But add the extra bonus feature that they are edible hand probably delicious) and people are complaining? *eye roll* IMHO these are really wonderful (those sweaters! OMG) and anyone who thinks they are too expensive simply shouldn't buy them- they obviously don't value skill and craftsmanship, which is what's truly being sold here.
I used to be a baker/cake decorator/cookie maker. It's not about the cookie, it's about time spent doing the artwork on the piece. Just like a wedding cake. People pay THOUSANDS of dollars for cake. Something that would normally cost about 20-50 dollars, costs over $2,000 dollars because of the artwork involved. She isn't selling cookies, she's selling edible artwork. You pay $5 or more for a bag of potato chips don't you? Well, thats about .25 cents worth of potatoes and $1.50 for the bag. Why not pay $10 for edible art?
I personally would buy a cookie for $10. I don't understand why other people wouldn't though, may people please tell me why they wouldn't?
She is clearly a very skilled cookie decorator and these must be difficult decorations since according to her it takes on average 10 minutes to do the decorations for each cookie (not including prep and cleanup.) I wonder if each of the 24 cookies is decorated with a unique design or if we are talking about 24 of the same decoration?
I think she does a bang up job decorating them,and I can appreciate that it takes alot of time to do it. But I think thats part of the problem. She doesnt use her time efficiently. She spends so much time decorating them which racks up the per hour charge. I guess if she can find folks willing to pay that much...well, theres a sucker born every minute.
If you don't want to pay 10$ for a cookie, don't but let her do it, she have skills, that's what people pay for that's all 👌🏻
The cookies are works of art. I would pay 10.00 for your cookies. People that don't want to buy your cookies, fine. Your cookies are like a handmade quilt. If it is truly made without any kind of sewing machine, all hand stitched, it is a work of art and very expensive. You get what you pay for!!!
I follow her on Instagram because watching the cookie decorating is therapeutic, I didn’t know how much they sell for, but I guess it’s a luxury product. I hope they taste amazing for that price!
she's free to charge whatever she likes. you don't want to pay that much, don't buy it. that's all there is to it. no need to comment on her prices or ask why it costs so much. just don't buy it lol.
Her praise reflects the effort she puts in there. If that's not in your budget, that's fine. But nobody gets to say the cookies aren't worth that. Because not only the time, the effort, but you are also paying for the skill. Sure, anybody can make cookies. But can you make cookies that look like that? No. That's why they are $10 a cookie.
First off, the price doesn't matter. I'd feel too guilty eating that. They are just too pretty! Secondly, people pay absolutely insane prices for wedding cake...same thing...flour, water...etc. No one seems to flip at those prices. I once bought a couple $4 cupcakes, which I thought was crazy expensive for a cupcake! But it was for a special occasion. Unfortunately, they were not very good. Would have been better off just getting ones at Walmart.
This all assumes she can only make 24 cookies in one day. That’s just not the case.
In the end, they don't owe you accommodation to your budget. It's an argument over something so silly because she gets customers. If it isn't in your budget, or what you'd be willing to pay, that's fine, but it's ridiculous how many people s**t on this woman for her choice of cost. Even though it doesn't affect anyone who isn't willing to pay the amount.
Totally understand this baker. Like people want expensive-looking, one-of-a-kind gold jewellery designed just for them, but only willing to pay mass-production jewellery prices, and then they tell you to go have brain checked coz you asked for an 'unreasonable amount'.
Basically if enough people are paying it for her to have a business then it's not insane. That's all it comes down to.
So mayn complaints, yet everybody would pay this and more for the same thing made of clay without batting eye. These are not really for eating, they are a piece of craft. This discussion is stupid. If you want cheaper cookies to eat, buy them elsewhere
She's an artist! Worth the money if they taste as good as they look. I personally wouldn't buy them for the same reason I don't have a Renoir on my wall, it's out of my price range, but for a special occasion, I would save up and happily pay her asking price.
This applies to any artist or talent. It isn't about the cost. It is about the talent. Louis Armstrong could play a $50 trumpet. So he's only worth a $5 admission fee?
I saw this on tiktok and I still stand by my I’m not paying $10 for one cookie. Her designs aren’t that fantastic. I’ve seen similar at other bakeries and they charge no more than $3 a cookie. If she was painting the Mona Lisa or something on the cookies then I’d reconsider, but no the average person in this economy would not pay $10 for one cookie. Down arrow away.
It's kinda irrelevant what you'd pay. This is a capitalist society. Goods are priced at whatever, people decide whether to buy them or not. I wouldn't pay for a yacht, or tickets to Disney, or a thousand other things. IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT I'D DO. I'm irrelevant. Some people will; those businesses survive. Some people are happy to pay $10 for a cookie. So what if you're not one of them? Are you going to tell us ALL the things you're deciding not to buy? Who cares?
Load More Replies... If we valued our people at their real worth. People could afford 10$ cookies, and have a good living wage and afford their own home. If our government still valued family owned businesses
But it's not only a cookie, technically it's just "food". If it were $10 bread people would be screaming that the poor could no longer afford to eat
Load More Replies... What I got from this is that it takes her 8 hours to make 1 order of 24 cookies. This is... not efficient. Though I guess since her business exists, some people are ready to pay that much. Personally I'll take delicious undecorated cookie over the ones that are mostly frosting, but to each his own
There were a few tasks in her list that could be done concurrently, rather than consecutively. Which would reduce the number of hours taken. This increasing her hourly rate. BTW - there's a job posting on Indeed for a Patisserie baker in NYC for a posted salary of... $19/hour. Now, granted she's doing this out of her own kitchen and handmaking things (so she's not included wear and tear on her equipment in her costs), but still. Nearly double the salary? Free market forces will determine how viable her business is at these rates. She might keep getting custom orders. Will she get enough to earn $58k a year? I'm not so sure.
Load More Replies... These aren't cookies you buy to stuff your face with while binging Netflix. You buy ONE for someone, for a special occasion. Or you buy a bunch for some corporate event. These are gifts, not snacks.
This whole post is trying to start an argument. It's IRRELEVANT what she charges. People will either pay that, or not. They don't have to. So it's on her; she'll either succeed or she'll fail. That is the case for EVERY business. Good luck to her; she'll find customers or she won't. Everyone getting indignant about "well I wouldn't pay - " WHO CARES. Every one of us makes decisions every week about what we think is "worth" the money. That's entirely personal decision.
When you make a cookie recipe you're not making it per cookie. You're making a batch. So, if you're making a batch of 24 cookies that's an hour. It's not an hour per cookie. You can't price it like that. I'm not saying that her cookies should be cheaper, but it should be priced based on complexity and size. I'm not paying $10 for a tiny cookie with a solid colour flooding and a word on it.
Yes that justification was ridiculous!It wouldn't be 8 hours for just one order for sure cause they would soon be out of business!!! And i don't get the "if i charged 5$ people would still think it's a lot so i charge 10$"! Lol!
Load More Replies... Okay. I am a custom cake and cookie decorator on the opposite coast and also work out of a home kitchen. I have thoughts. Supplies for 18 cookies (I usually work in sets of 18) that are about 3-4" (standard sizes) run about $13. I know from experience that if I work efficiently I can design and decorate two sets of 18 (6 unique designs, 3 of each) in about 8-9 hours active time. I charge $3-$4 cookie (highly detailed or lots of different colors are closer to $4). Which brings the total for a set (again, 18 cookies is how I operate) to at most $72. I have certifications and ten years of experience. Expecting to make that salary out of a home kitchen is ambitious at best. We all charge what we think people will pay so good for her however, most of us are half that and do okay. If you want big money do cakes.
$240 for 12 cookies is insane, I dont care what state or city you live in. A lady my daughter buys custom cookies from is usually between $100-$120.00 depending on what she is getting, which I still think its a lot but still more reasonable than $10 a cookie. In my opinion a lot of these cookies dont even taste good, they spend so much time on the out appearance they forget flavor is still just as important.
Just going to point out that at $10 a cookie, her charge of $240 is for 24. So that works out to about the same as your daughter pays.
Load More Replies... If she charges $10 per cookie and someone is willing to pay her price, then that's as far as it goes. I. don't get to chime in on it. Not my cookies, not my money. How is this my business.
Remember when everyone thought anything more than $1 for coffee was insane?
That equates to £41700 in uk money. This is well above what nurses, firefighters, paramedics, even doctors are paid. Not sure who the target market is, the super rich of newyork?! I wouldn't indulge in a 10$ cookie even if I was in the mood for spoiling myself
Not a chance I'd pay $10 for a cookie I make twice what she's saying that equals for a years salary and still wouldn't even think about that it's insane.
SHE DOESNT SELL THESE COOKIES YOU FREAKING IDIOTS. She literally DOES NOT SELL THEM. I read through ALL these comments and it’s CLEAR nobody actually read the part where she says THIS IS ALL HYPOTHETICAL. Unbelievable.
And her designs ARE FREAKING INSANELY ATTRACTIVE. She is very talented.
Load More Replies... Eh, it’s rich people stuff, like designer clothes. If some Upper East Side parents want to spend $200 on cookies their kid’s party who cares.
$10 dollars for a cookie is ridiculous. The cost to produce does not decide the value of the product.
Someone literally made a good point of it mostly being around $10 value mostly for her artistic skills. Its funny how this is controversial when we've had ridiculous tiny desserts LIKE a cookie go for bout 100 dollars up to a THOUSAND for years, but no one batted an eye. but an independent baker who isnt even selling her cookies everyone loses their s**t. The irony is real.
Load More Replies... After last week's floods I would imagine most New Yorkers don't give a rats ass about $10 cookies one way or another.
The real issue here is why it's taking her 8 hours for 12 mediocre cookies. THAT'S why $10 a cookie ABSOLUTELY is 100% insane.
The break down of salary against $10 cookies is asinine. If her whole business model is built around this mentality she's not going to last long. It would more to her benefit to make mass produced cookies made with less investment on her side as her base salary and have these Unicorn Fart cookies as something people can buy if they choose.
Nope. Sorry. Don't mean to be rude, but I went to a culinary school that also ran it's own business... We made much nicer then just a fancy frosting job lol. Cute, but anyone with a creative bone and a steady hand can do it. Chances are those are the most basic sugar cookies caked in frosting xD good lord, she should be embarrassed. I've seen actual kids make several dozen and decorate in the span of a few hours, but she wants $10 a cookie!? She buyers sure, doesn't mean they aren't getting scammed xD I know she doesn't sell them, but I feel like she's putting WAY too much value on these... Yes it takes work BUT NOT THAT MUCH! XDD Its not like she's world class, pretty basic but she wants a gold star! I think she needs to take a step back and realize others can do that.
I'm a bit torn on this. On one hand, if a person thinks $10 a cookie is too much they don't have to buy them. One the other hand, by the 'break down' of her pricing, she is charging the client cleanup cost? I kind of understand the 'communication with the client' as even a plumber will charge you to come look at what may need to be done, but it's still just a cookie.
Obviously, her baking skills are a lot better than her math skills. Her reasoning only makes sense if she were baking 1 cookie at a time. But baking 1 cookie or baking 20 at a time is not that much different. Let's say it takes you 6 hours to make 1 cookie. If you want to make 20 very similar cookies you may spend 11 hours... NOT 120 (6HRS X 20 Cookies).
I have seen similar calculations for knitted mittens and socks, ending at a whooping 1000+ dollars a pair. If charging a hourly rate to cover whatever salary you deem fit is applied almost any hobby item will be pricey. Might be worth it for someone with a lot of money willing to pay, most will not. Thats why many has things like this either as a hobby or to create online content, like she is. Whole thing gets a little absurd when the cakes isnt even for sale.
why would you pay 10$ for a cookie that you'd feel guilty for eating? Idk i just think cheap cookies are better cuz you pay 30 cents to pay for something that you will enjoy for three minutes, rather than 10$. im glad she manages to keep customers though
People who have large amounts of money don't feel guilty spending $10. That needs to be her primary customer base.
Load More Replies... I can get 5 chunky choc chip cookies for £1 in the supermarket (aka, $1.30-ish) so... yea no way I'd pay 10 for one f*****g boring ass "sugar cookie" with far too much icing. Lmao, plus this woman is delusional.. if you want a good salary, get a job. I'm sorry, but most people I know, unless they own their own bakery, do baking omissions etc as a side job, for a "bit of extra cash"
Cookies like this take alot of skill and time. I can certainly see how, from a maker's perspective, they are worth at least $10 each. From a business model perspective, I can also see how, people with more than enough money might see these as unique and upmarket gifts or decorations (goodness knows more money is spent on less attractive rubbish). From a personal perspective, a $10 cookie says alot about what is wrong with the capitalist market, wealth distribution and food security.
This is similar to the tale of the guy selling $10,000.00 apples; when told he'd never sell many apples at that price he responded "I just have to sell one!" Considering these cookies look delicious and the fact that nobody is FORCED to buy them, I truly don't understand the controversy. I imagine most people have never been behind the wheel of a Ferrari but, judging by the negative comments about $10.00 cookies, perhaps you folks should be protesting $300,000.00 cars...the NERVE!!!!!! Grace, charge what the market will bear and ignore the nay-sayers; it's called 'Capitalism' and I wish you all the success in the world in your business.
Yes because an over priced cookie and a luxury car are similar.....
Load More Replies... Yeah, definitely not worth $10 for something that looks cute and tastes like absolute s**t. I'm not spending $10 on a "gift" that is of absolutely no use to anyone. I mean, I guess, if someone encased it in resin it would be worth $10 for a seasonal ornament.
You are paying for her art and creativity. If you just want cookies to eat look elsewhere. If you want special cookies that tell your guests they are worth everything then you get cookies from her.
I love all the people in the comments here saying that they won't buy any from her. SHE'S NOT SELLING THEM!
Hard to credit that so many people get so crazed over the price of cookies. Since they don't have to buy them, why do they care?
She has the right to charge whatever she wants for her cookies. Also, you’re not forced to buy them, it’s not like they are the last food on earth . Don’t see a problem here
its personal bussines. they can priced their commodities however they liked. if 20K for a bag is okay, so why not 10$ cookies??
The cookies' market value is what customers will actually pay for them. That's capitalism.
She can charge whatever she wants as an artist, however, she really needs to work on her explanation for her reasoning. It doesn't make sense, the time allotment, the supplies etc...it's just not a good explanation. Just say: "this is what I believe my work is worth, I'm an artist after all" that's it, no need to break it down in that weird, non-sensical way, it takes away some of her repudability
well, considering that some people bought Kanye West $120 white plain tshirts...
As long as she isn’t holding a gun to your head and máking you buy them then it is her business and hers alone. She’s making a living, she likes her job. Let people be happy and go eat an Oreo.
I'd consider that price for a batch of custom designed cookies for a special occasion like a wedding, anniversary, or milestone birthday. For an ordinary day, grocery cookies are fine. May I suggest Tate's chocolate chip. (U.S.) If the price of her custom cookies is too much, you are free to look elsewhere.
She understands she is selling a luxury cookie. She is not forcing anyone to buy her cookies. And pretty sure at her salary, living in New York City, she does not spend that much on a single cookie either. But that doesn't mean other people can't afford it or would not want to buy it. It is New York City, people spend over 10k on a purse, she has the local clientele for this business. She found a niche market for rich people and supplies them with goods they want. Good for her to earn a living for herself.
It all comes down to being able to make a living at what you love to do. I love to crochet, and a sweater would take about 10-20 hours; the materials roughly $50-$100. If I costed it out to a living wage, no one would pay that amount for a hand-knit sweater. Not in any sustainable volume...
Many years ago I used to do cake decorating and made wedding cakes, birthday cakes etc. I would work with each client to design what they wanted. I typically charged $30 for an 8” cake. If they complained about the cost I would very nicely tell them I understood. They could certainly go to the cake department and pay way less. For me it would not be worth the time I would put in. I was never offended and most people understood. That being said, I personally would not pay $10, but I don’t live in NY. Also, very few people do not understand the intense work that goes into these. As someone else said, you don’t have to buy them. Why do you care if anyone else does?
I would definitely pay $10 each for special cookies to be sent to friends that I am far away from.
I'm amazed that people still don't understand the issue. SHE DOESN'T SELL HER COOKIES. At this price or at any price. Learn to read, folks.
Yeah? Try pricing wedding cakes. You're not only paying for her supplies & time, you're paying for her skill as well. Don't like it - don't buy it. Absolutely NO ONE cares.
The craftsmanship in these cookies is fantastic! Nobody would think the price was too high if they were marketed as ornaments or tchotchkes. But add the extra bonus feature that they are edible hand probably delicious) and people are complaining? *eye roll* IMHO these are really wonderful (those sweaters! OMG) and anyone who thinks they are too expensive simply shouldn't buy them- they obviously don't value skill and craftsmanship, which is what's truly being sold here.
I used to be a baker/cake decorator/cookie maker. It's not about the cookie, it's about time spent doing the artwork on the piece. Just like a wedding cake. People pay THOUSANDS of dollars for cake. Something that would normally cost about 20-50 dollars, costs over $2,000 dollars because of the artwork involved. She isn't selling cookies, she's selling edible artwork. You pay $5 or more for a bag of potato chips don't you? Well, thats about .25 cents worth of potatoes and $1.50 for the bag. Why not pay $10 for edible art?
I personally would buy a cookie for $10. I don't understand why other people wouldn't though, may people please tell me why they wouldn't?
She is clearly a very skilled cookie decorator and these must be difficult decorations since according to her it takes on average 10 minutes to do the decorations for each cookie (not including prep and cleanup.) I wonder if each of the 24 cookies is decorated with a unique design or if we are talking about 24 of the same decoration?
I think she does a bang up job decorating them,and I can appreciate that it takes alot of time to do it. But I think thats part of the problem. She doesnt use her time efficiently. She spends so much time decorating them which racks up the per hour charge. I guess if she can find folks willing to pay that much...well, theres a sucker born every minute.
If you don't want to pay 10$ for a cookie, don't but let her do it, she have skills, that's what people pay for that's all 👌🏻
The cookies are works of art. I would pay 10.00 for your cookies. People that don't want to buy your cookies, fine. Your cookies are like a handmade quilt. If it is truly made without any kind of sewing machine, all hand stitched, it is a work of art and very expensive. You get what you pay for!!!
I follow her on Instagram because watching the cookie decorating is therapeutic, I didn’t know how much they sell for, but I guess it’s a luxury product. I hope they taste amazing for that price!
she's free to charge whatever she likes. you don't want to pay that much, don't buy it. that's all there is to it. no need to comment on her prices or ask why it costs so much. just don't buy it lol.
Her praise reflects the effort she puts in there. If that's not in your budget, that's fine. But nobody gets to say the cookies aren't worth that. Because not only the time, the effort, but you are also paying for the skill. Sure, anybody can make cookies. But can you make cookies that look like that? No. That's why they are $10 a cookie.
First off, the price doesn't matter. I'd feel too guilty eating that. They are just too pretty! Secondly, people pay absolutely insane prices for wedding cake...same thing...flour, water...etc. No one seems to flip at those prices. I once bought a couple $4 cupcakes, which I thought was crazy expensive for a cupcake! But it was for a special occasion. Unfortunately, they were not very good. Would have been better off just getting ones at Walmart.
This all assumes she can only make 24 cookies in one day. That’s just not the case.
In the end, they don't owe you accommodation to your budget. It's an argument over something so silly because she gets customers. If it isn't in your budget, or what you'd be willing to pay, that's fine, but it's ridiculous how many people s**t on this woman for her choice of cost. Even though it doesn't affect anyone who isn't willing to pay the amount.
Totally understand this baker. Like people want expensive-looking, one-of-a-kind gold jewellery designed just for them, but only willing to pay mass-production jewellery prices, and then they tell you to go have brain checked coz you asked for an 'unreasonable amount'.
Basically if enough people are paying it for her to have a business then it's not insane. That's all it comes down to.
So mayn complaints, yet everybody would pay this and more for the same thing made of clay without batting eye. These are not really for eating, they are a piece of craft. This discussion is stupid. If you want cheaper cookies to eat, buy them elsewhere
She's an artist! Worth the money if they taste as good as they look. I personally wouldn't buy them for the same reason I don't have a Renoir on my wall, it's out of my price range, but for a special occasion, I would save up and happily pay her asking price.
This applies to any artist or talent. It isn't about the cost. It is about the talent. Louis Armstrong could play a $50 trumpet. So he's only worth a $5 admission fee?
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